Penguin chicks hatched at LB aquarium

July 30, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 12:28 p.m.

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The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has announced the birth of two Magellanic penguins, the first chicks to be hatched in the new June Keyes Penguin Habitat. COURTESTY OF THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC

1 of 3

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has announced the birth of two Magellanic penguins, the first chicks to be hatched in the new June Keyes Penguin Habitat. COURTESY OF THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC

1 of 3

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has announced the births of two Magellanic penguins, the first chicks to be hatched in the new June Keyes Penguin Habitat. COURTESY OF THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has announced the birth of two Magellanic penguins, the first chicks to be hatched in the new June Keyes Penguin Habitat. COURTESTY OF THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC

LONG BEACH -- The Aquarium of the Pacific has announced the births of two Magellanic penguin chicks, hatched on June 19 and 25.

At hatching they were 3 inches long and weighed 69 and 63 grams. The chicks are the first to be born at the June Keyes Penguin Habitat and are being cared for behind the scenes until their public debut at the end of August.

The unnamed babies are from first-time parent penguins Floyd and Roxy. They are the result of a successful interbreeding of the mixed captive-raised and wild-rescued Magellanic penguin population at the aquarium.

Some penguins, including Floyd, came from captivity at the San Francisco Zoo. The others, like Roxy, were rescued from being stranded in Niteroi, Brazil, after getting lost on a food migration.

"The goal of interbreeding is to diversify the gene pool," said Dudley Wigdahl, curator of mammals and birds. "You don't want to back yourself into a genetic corner."

Magellanic penguins are native to coastal Argentina and Chile. The chicks can be viewed on aquarium webcams at www.aquariumofthepacific.org.

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